RootsChat.Com
Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Inverness => Topic started by: Lee Morgan on Wednesday 02 May 18 14:39 BST (UK)
-
Hi,
I have a record of a marriage which took place in Friars Court, in 1877. The groom (my great-great-great-grandfather, Murdo Urquhart) is also listed as living at this location.
Friars Court seems to have been in Friars Lane. Given that this is such a tiny street, can anyone give me information about it? Thanks!
-
In Scotland couples often married in the bride's home. Was Friar's Court also given as the bride's address? Were either of the parties or their families living there in the 1871 or 1881 census?
-
Thanks Ruskie, I was unaware of that. But no, his bride is living around the corner in Glebe Street. Could the ceremony have been held in the groom's house maybe?
Both are recent arrivals to the area, from Wester Ross.
-
I'm guessing Friars Court may have been a building in Friars Lane?
-
I'm guessing Friars Court may have been a building in Friars Lane?
Certainly would seem to be so - there is no sign of it on the (very detailed) OS Town plan of Inverness dated 1867, but the 1873 Street Directory does list it - with 8 householders, first being a lady who is lodging-house keeper - and in between 12 and 18 Friars Lane.
Note: Back then street numbering was consecutive (down one side of street and back up the other).
The next Street Directory, 1899 (by which time streets had been renumbered as odd one side and even the other), shows Friars Court as being on North side between 16 and 18, with six householders. I would think it was a tenement-type building behind Friars Lane which has long since gone - the current Telephone Exchange (built 1930s) now covers the site. Neither street directory has anyone called Urquhart as a householder.
The 1927 Directory shows Friars Court as being between 16 and 20 Friars Lane, and comprising 1, 1a, 2, 3 and 4 - so presumably flats in a tenement. By 1930 there were only 1, 1a and 2, There is no listing for Friars Court in 1931 - only a gap in numbering of Friars Lane - goes from 16 straight to 20 and then 28. so likely demolished or derelict by then.
-
Conner, can you provide a link to that (or another good) map please? Before I signed off last night I was going to suggest looking for a map so I am glad you have found one. :)
Lee, it could be something as simple as there was more room at Friar's Court. Friar's Court may have been the groom's residence or even the residence of another relative. Couples also often married at the Manse - but there may have been a cost involved with that (someone else will be able to advise), hence marrying at someone's home.
Courts (in England at least) were often very basic housing with shared washing facilities behind a main road, sometimes centered around a "yard". If you google key words like tenement court and slum you will see some images to give you an idea of what it might have looked like. Many have been demolished.
Here is a link to some images (Liverpool rather than Scotland I'm afraid, but you get the general idea):
http://streetsofliverpool.co.uk/tag/courts/
Some images of Glasgow Closes - Plate 28 shows a 'Court':
http://special.lib.gla.ac.uk/exhibns/month/Mar2006.html
-
Conner, can you provide a link to that (or another good) map please? Before I signed off last night I was going to suggest looking for a map so I am glad you have found one. :)
National Library of Scotland - 1867 Inverness OS Street map - with the facility to zoom really close in to see the astounding detail (and the choice of various overlays which you can vary the transparency level of using the slider bar). Truly a wonderful resource.
http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=57.4808&lon=-4.2311&layers=88&b=1
-
Thanks, Conner, that's exactly what I was looking for.
I couldn't find a Friars Court in any of the maps I had seen online, so thanks again for that. We'll be visiting Inverness next weekend so I'll have a look in person, even though there's nothing to be seen of Friars Court today.
Ruskie, when I first saw Friars Court mentioned as the marriage venue I imagined an official building but then I noted that the groom lived there to. Seemed odd but the other meaning (that of a yard/tenement) makes more sense.
Cheers.
-
Can I just ask if there was an actual house/flat no. attached on the MC for Friars Court?
Annie
-
Annie,
No number I'm afraid. Just, "Friars Court," for both the location and for the residence of the groom. It's curious. But then, the entry above it simply has, "Parish of Fearn," as usual residence so I should be thankful!
-Lee.
-
Yep, looks likely the grooms parents address if the father was Donald then if not it would seem to be another relative;
URQUHART DONALD
Tenant Occupier
HOUSE FRIARS COURT NO 18 FRIARS LANE
INVERNESS
1875
VR004200015-
Friars Lane does seem to be the place & as mentioned about Court, it was probably of no significance i.e. would come under 'Lane' possibly on a map back then?
Annie
-
That's interesting, Annie. Unfortunately, the groom's father was deceased at the time of the union. As far as I'm aware, there is no-one named Donald in the immediate family but I will check that.
As I mentioned before, both groom and bride were from Wester Ross and may have had no family living nearby at the time.
I'm beginning to think they eloped!
-
Just to give you an idea of a 'Court' in Scotland (although this may differ in different areas of Scotland) but back in the early 60s from what I recall, there was an entrance into it, an offshoot of another street with no outward exit i.e. similar to a cul-de-sac if this is of any help & didn't consist of many houses/flats but very secure too as everyone would see who was coming & going so 'nosey' neighbours would know every detail about their neighbours! ;D
While posting this I got a red alert for your reply...
I would expect with the same surname at the same address there would be some connection although I've no idea who it would be but the address is recorded with Urquhart on the VRs (Voters Roll) & seems more than a coincidence in my own view?
Annie
-
As I've been discovering, Urquhart isn't exactly an uncommon surname in these parts! But, you're right, it would seem to be a coincidence for them not to be related somehow.
Yes, I understand now about the "court." Thank you. :)
-
I had a look at that VR but unfortunately although others have an occ. this Donald doesn't i.e. a search on census' won't be a help from this although he's the Tenant ::)
Annie
-
Conner, can you provide a link to that (or another good) map please? Before I signed off last night I was going to suggest looking for a map so I am glad you have found one. :)
National Library of Scotland - 1867 Inverness OS Street map - with the facility to zoom really close in to see the astounding detail (and the choice of various overlays which you can vary the transparency level of using the slider bar). Truly a wonderful resource.
http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=57.4808&lon=-4.2311&layers=88&b=1
Yes, thanks ... I'm a regular user of the NLS maps.
This is a wonderful detailed map of the area. It's not clear whether Friars Court is off Friar's Street or Friar's Lane. You can make out some possible "courts" but none are named unfortunately.
I usually follow the enumerator's route to try to narrow down a location, but not in Scotland as you have to pay for each census so can't easily go up and down the streets like you can on the English census. :)
-
Ruskie,
From my reply #10 & the entry on the Voters Roll "FRIARS COURT NO 18 FRIARS LANE"
Apologies for caps as I've only copied & pasted the entry on SP ;D
Annie
-
Ruskie,
From my reply #10 & the entry on the Voters Roll "FRIARS COURT NO 18 FRIARS LANE"
Apologies for caps as I've only copied & pasted the entry on SP ;D
Annie
Ah yes, I did read that earlier Annie, and noticed the number 18 and missed the "Friars Lane" part of the address. :-[
I think that tracing Donald Urquhart might lead to finding family connection .... somewhere.
There don't appear to be many "Courts" off Friar's Lane - there an area which may be a Court almost opposite the Stag Inn? Not sure though .... :-\
-
I agree so hopefully he's there either 1871 or 1881 as the voter roll entry was 1875 & I haven't checked further & now heading off as much as I'd like to explore more ::)
Annie
-
In the 1871 census there is a Donald Urquhart living at 32 Church Street Inverness - just around the corner from Friar's Lane. He is aged 60, born Ross-shire and is a Porter. :-\
There are other possibilities but they are either too young, or have occupations like "Farmer" which doesn't necessarily fit with someone living in the city.
-
Banffshire Journal & General Advertiser, 6 Mar 1877
DEATHS
At Friars Court, Inverness, on the 23rd ult., DONALD URQUHART, in the 64th year of his age
-
Um, ages not too far out - it may be the same Donald ...
-
Thanks guys.
I will look into the Donald Urquhart thing - possibly an Uncle or something? The connection with Ross-shire makes it plausible.
-
In the 1871 census there is a Donald Urquhart living at 32 Church Street Inverness - just around the corner from Friar's Lane. He is aged 60, born Ross-shire and is a Porter. :-\
There are other possibilities but they are either too young, or have occupations like "Farmer" which doesn't necessarily fit with someone living in the city.
Back then the town of Inverness was FAR smaller - and farms existed where Longman Industrial Estate and South Kessock and Carse housing estates now stand - all within half a mile of Friars Lane. So "Farmer" could indeed be a possibility.
-
In the 1871 census there is a Donald Urquhart living at 32 Church Street Inverness - just around the corner from Friar's Lane. He is aged 60, born Ross-shire and is a Porter. :-\
There are other possibilities but they are either too young, or have occupations like "Farmer" which doesn't necessarily fit with someone living in the city.
Back then the town of Inverness was FAR smaller - and farms existed where Longman Industrial Estate and South Kessock and Carse housing estates now stand - all within half a mile of Friars Lane. So "Farmer" could indeed be a possibility.
Good point Conner.
The occupation of someone living in a "Court" is probably unlikely to have been farmer though .... I would expect that a farmer would have lived on the farm.
He could have changed occupations between the 1871 census and he marriage which took place at Friar's Court, which may or may not have been at Donald's residence at No18.
That Donald may be a red herring ... and it depends how determined you are to find out whose residence the couple married in, and how much research you want to do to try to find out. :)
-
In the 1871 census there is a Donald Urquhart living at 32 Church Street Inverness - just around the corner from Friar's Lane. He is aged 60, born Ross-shire and is a Porter. :-\
Thanks Ruskie!
Possible death which should name parents with mother's m/s if known to the informant?
URQUHART DONALD 64
1877
098/ 56 Inverness
Annie